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144
The Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, Seventh
Edition, Compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg. Concord, N.H.: D.L.
one of the finest country residences
in the State. This village lies
three miles south-east from North
Enfield depot, and is connected
with it by stage, twice, daily.
At East Enfield there is a church,
school house, saw mill, two or
three small shops, and eight or ten
dwellings.
Shaker village is located on the
south-western shore of Mascomy
lake. This village is divided into
what is termed three families, viz.,
North, Center or Church, and
South families. The village is lo-
cated about midway between the
two extremes of the lake, and they
own all the land on the lake for
nearly two miles. The plain
where the village is situated is
very narrow between the lake and
the hill (which rises quite abrupt-
ly), but the soil is very rich and
productive. About twenty acres
of their land, they devote to the
raising of garden seeds, and botan-
ic medicinal herbs. The hills af-
ford some of the finest pasturage
in the State. Every thing about
their farms has an air of neatness.
Their cattle, horses and sheep are
of the very best quality, showing,
with all their peculiarities, that
they are husbandmen whom it
would be for the interest of every
New-Hampshire farmer to imitate.
Their home farm contains about
1,500 acres. Their buildings are
modestly neat, and built more for
convenience and durability, than
beauty, although some of their
buildings have an expensive ap-
pearance, which is the fact. In
1837, the middle family built a
large stone building, four stories
high, 100 feet long and 56 wide. It
is surmounted by a cupola, in
which is a bell weighing 800 lbs. |
Every stone in the building is ce-
mented and further fastened to-
gether with iron trunnels. The
whole expense of the building was
$ 35,000. At the time of its erec-
tion, it was considered the most
expensive building in the State,
except the State House. It is de-
voted to family use. There are
some other very good buildings,
among which is a large barn, the
most convenient of any in the State,
Their manufactures are not very
extensive, but their goods are of
the very best quality. They con-
sist of knit goods, tubs, pails,
brooms, and distilled valerian, &c.
The annual value of valerian sold
is about $4,000. The estimated
amount of all goods sold annually,
including garden seeds, is over
$ 30,000. All of the families wor-
ship together, and are under one
general board of Trustees. Their
number is about 200. As to their
religious creed, please see Canter-
bury, and for their early settlement
in Enfield, look at the early set-
tlement of the town. One of the
greatest tragedies which ever oc-
curred among the Shakers in this
town, was the murder of Caleb M.
Dyer by one Thomas Weir, in 1864.
Mr. Dyer was their chief man in
all their business affairs, and was
extensively known throughout the
State, and noted for his business
tact, and honesty. Weir was an
unprincipled fellow, and volunta-
rily placed his children under the
protection of the Shakers, but after
his return from the war he wished
to regain them. Weir was suffer-
ed to see them once or twioe, but
he still called and insisted on hav-
ing the children. At length his
frequent visits became a nuisance,
and Mr. Dyer refused to let him
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